Don't know how many of you saw the following article in last week's Capital. Be sure to read the letter to the editor by KIDL volunteer Terry Babb which follows this article, and a footnote by the "KIDL postmistress" (me):

Through a state-run program, Queen Anne's County bought the development rights to 2,650 acres of farmland last year, the most of any county in Maryland.

The amount of farmland the county aims to save could signficantly jump this year, thanks to none other than Kent Island developers.

Land sales to K. Hovnanian Cos., John Wilson and Chesterhaven Beach Partnership, who plan to build 2,350 homes on the island, will put at least $666,667 into the county's Agricultural Transfer Tax fund.

This fund buys the development rights from Queen Anne's County farmers. The state, which runs the preservation program, will add at least $1 million to the fund for a total of at least $1.67 million.

Last year, the county, with matching funds from the state, spent $375,000 from the fund to buy the acreage, a record for the county.

Coming in second was Carroll County with 1,840 acres and third was Baltimore County with 1,740.

"It's something I point out to people when they get upset about all of the development on Kent Island," said Joy Levy, the county's land use planner. "The one upside ... is that the transfer tax goes to one place and one place only -- to fund easement purchases of farmland in the county."

Started in 1977, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation matches the county's contribution 60-40.

Since the county began participating in the program in 1981, it has preserved 14,165 of its total 238,248 acres.

An additional 39,935 acres have been saved through other state and county preservation programs.

"Those are very important numbers to note," said George O'Donnell, D-Queenstown, president of the county's Board of Commissioners. "Even with all of the development, we're still preserving eight acres for every one acre that is being developed."

Commissioner John T. McQeeney, R-Stevensville, said many residents erroneously think the county is being developed at an alarming rate because of the number of developers proposing projects in the county, especially on Kent Island.

"People think that every acre is being developed, but there's actually a whole lot being preserved," he said. "People get upset because 450 homes were built in Queen Anne's County last year. But at least 1,100 new building permits were issued in Anne Arundel County." (see footnote)

Anne Arundel County spokesman John Morris said that number is actually closer to 3,000. (see footnote)

Farmers interested in selling their development rights must apply through the county's Department of Planning and Zoning office. Their application is then subject to approval by the county Agricultural Board, Planning Commission and commissioners and the state.

If the county buys the easement, the farmer keeps the right to farm the land and develop homes for himself and his children.

Ms. Levy said 25 county farmers have offered their land for easement purchases this year. Most of the land being offered or that has already been preserved is located in the central and northern part of the county, not in growth areas such as Kent Island.

Ms. Levy said farm owners on Kent Island typically don't participate in the program because they can make a lot more money selling their land outright.

I don’t know about other Kent Island residents, but the article “QA Land Saved from Developers” (Capital, March 14), sure didn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy, no matter what kind of spin our commissioners and county staff try to put on it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really wonderful that they are able to save so much farmland from development, but at what expense?

Hey there - remember us? Our county is not just made up of farmland, it also boasts some of the most beautiful and fragile areas of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The extraordinarily sensitive environment of Kent Island is being sacrificed for the benefit of the rest of the county, and our backyard creeks and rivers shouldn’t be turned into a “sacrifice zone”.

The standards of the original Critical Areas Law were intended to protect, conserve and preserve the land and water around the bay and its tributaries. As our county commissioners and staff lower these development limitations through amendments and waivers, the quality of life and the health of Kent Island will indeed become “critical”.

The Four Seasons project on Kent Island involves the largest single growth allocation ever considered. Wouldn’t it seem reasonable that the more land available, the more likely it would be that the 300 foot setbacks and buffers would be respected? Wouldn’t it seem reasonable that on a site this large, a well-designed clustered development would minimize impervious areas and maximize areas of natural vegetation? Wouldn’t it seem reasonable for our commissioners to enforce the requirement for greater public access to the shoreline on such a large growth allocation request?

The residents of Kent Island must be able to count on our elected officials and county employees to be among those to whom Kent Island is more than just a “marketing tool” – that it is to be cherished and preserved just as much as our farmland.

Footnote:AA Co. has a population of 489,600 - QAC only 40,500 or 8% the population of AA Co. That 3000 new home permits (according to John Morris of AACo.) is a drop in the bucket to AA Co., 450 for QAC is a pretty big splash. What will the tidal wave look like NEXT year if and when permits begin to be issued for Four Seasons (where they hope to build about 200 homes per year in ONE SUBDIVISION) on TOP of the rest of the new construction permits? (Currently approved developments plus Gibson's Grant, Ellendale, etc.) Are we looking at 650 OR MORE new homes in QAC for one year? How many of those will be on Kent Island? What will the effect be on YOUR life?